Workplace Safety and Security in Indian Healthcare Settings: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Abstract
Introduction: Workplace safety and security are critical concerns in healthcare settings, where incidents of violence against healthcare workers are increasingly reported. This study aimed to assess the current status of security and safety measures in Indian healthcare institutions, focusing on the perceptions of healthcare workers across various settings.
Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,566 health- care workers from diverse medical institutions across India using a pre-tested, self-administered online questionnaire, which assessed various dimensions of workplace safety. Logistic regression was used to find differences among groups. Open-ended responses were anal-ysed using thematic analysis.
Results: The findings revealed that 58.2% of healthcare profession-als felt unsafe at the workplace due to various threats. Perception of low safety was more in undergraduates (74.2%) than faculty (51%).
A high proportion of health workers (78.4%) reported having been threatened on duty. Nearly half of the healthcare professionals lacked a dedicated duty room. The existing duty rooms were found to be grossly inadequate in providing the basic amenities. State-funded public healthcare settings were found to have poor living conditions, inadequate security measures, and a low perception of safety as com-pared to private institutions. Male healthcare professionals had high-er odds of feeling unsafe at the workplace.
Conclusion: The study highlighted the significant gaps in the security infrastructure within Indian healthcare settings. Over half of the health workforce feels that their workplace is unsafe, particularly in state and central government medical colleges. A comprehensive, need-based approach with legislative support is necessary to enhance workplace security, which may improve doctor-patient relationships, workforce well-being, and overall healthcare quality.
How to cite this article:
Chadhar K, Mishra R, Das S, Prasad I S, Gupta
P. Workplace Safety and Security in
Indian Healthcare Settings: A Cross-Sectional
Survey. Epidem Int. 2024;9(3):1-12.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2455.7048.202403
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